Finally watched Andy Dear's dvd after purchasing many moons ago and turned my first reel seat. I turned a stabilized, big leaf maple block and it turned out ok. Finished by alternating a few coats of CA w/150grit paper, then finish sanded to 2000grit. I would really like to make the grain pop and achieve a glossier look, can I use spar urethane (or use a different product/method altogether) after going through the CA/sandpaper process? Wasn't sure about adhesion. Tried some marine wax as a final coat but it doesn't look much different from the CA results.

Many, many thanks!

gun stock tongue oil should make the grain pop and provide a high gloss finish

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.

I agree with Matthew. My choice of finish is Pro Custom Oil (hand rubbed applications) because the oil component is tung oil. I can't answer your question about applying over your previously applied finishes. No experience there.

"The greatest barrier to discovery is not ignorance, it's the illusion of knowledge" - Daniel J. Boorstin

Many years ago finishing gun stocks I was taught an old trick. After you think you reached the final sanding stage, take a moist cloth (water) and wipe the wood, don't wet it, just a light sheen. Take a heat lamp or a heat gun and pass it over the wood drying it quickly. You may see tiny fibers that have been embedded in the grain stand up like little "fuzzies". Sand and repeat this several times to minimize this effect.
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As for the finish I like to use boiled linseed oil and hand rub until the desired gloss is achieved.

When the wood is is ready for finish I start with a mixture of linseed oil and a small amount of FFFF grade pumice and rub the wood along the grain. Wipe off the pumice mix and continue hand rubbing with the oil only. Keep rubbing until you get the gloss level you want. At this point no other finish is necessary.

Also, as Matthew said gun stock tongue oil will also work.

Good luck
John

The time to pop the grain with oil (BLO or Tung) is BEFORE any finish coats are applied. One coat of BLO will do quite nicely on the bare wood. Apply liberally, let penetrate for a short time (say a half hour). then wipe off vigorously. Let cure for a few days and apply your finish coats. It won't work to apply the oil over the film finish coats. Oil finish, BLO or Tung, need to be in the wood. Left on the surface they will be soft and lack durability.

If you want an in the wood finish your best choice is a mix of oil and varnish, applied is the same as pure oil. It will look virtually the same, but be more durable especially as far as water resistance.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/02/2017 04:15PM by Steve Schoene.

Thanks very much gentlemen, very appreciated! I will give the different oil treatments a test, I have some gunstock (Tru oil) and BLO handy. Turned an end cap this evening - this could easily become another addiction!

Thanks again!

Mike,
I am sure that you realize, that once you have applied CA as a finish to wood, there really aren't many - if any finishes that can be applied over the ca and get good adhesion.

So, if you want to put on ca for a finish- just remember that it will be the top finish coat on the rod.

The oil finishes need to start with raw wood, and then just have multiple coats put on top of each other.

Another finish that works very well for a wood grip is a couple of coats of epoxy thread coating like thread master, pro coat or flex coat.

Apply one coat of finish. Let it cure and then sand it smooth. The first coat will raise any grain that has not been raised previously. So, you need to sand off any thing sticking above the first coat. Then, apply a 2nd coat and you will be good. Just rotate the grip in the same way as you would a rod and you will be good to go.

Be safe

Thanks Roger, I'll be experimenting soon!

I believe he says that this is stabilized wood, if so it will not have grain to raise,as the polymers used capture the fibers. I turn a lot of stabilized woods, and find the best way to get a great gloss is to finish the turning using ever fine grits, down to 1000 and then polishing with a piece of brown kraft paper sack at high speed. then a top coat of Tru-Oil.

If you want to salvage this work and achieve a high gloss, you should sand off the CA to start with.